Dan Campbell’s “We Hit” Policy Shuts Down ‘Dirty’ Kerby Joseph Claim as Tampa Bay Await Lions Challenge

The Los Angeles Rams might not want to recall their wild-card game against the Detroit Lions. Not because they lost the game but because of the scary injury they faced due to an alleged “dirty” play. Since then, Matthew Stafford and his team have been hating the Lions and Kerby Joseph. But now, Lions’ coach Dan Campbell has come forward to defend his team.

On Sunday, January 14, Rams QB Stafford was mic’d up during the game. He called Joseph dirty when he hit the Rams’ tight end, Tyler Higbee, injuring his knee badly. This incident caused chaos in the two teams and their fans, with many passing hateful comments toward the Lions. So, to defend the team and Joseph, in particular, Campbell recently shut all the remarks within their “hit” policy.

Is Dan Campbell supporting his rough-playing team?

In the latest press conference ahead of their Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, Lions coach Dan Campbell talked about his playing policy, which he has been training his defensive line on. When asked about Kerby Joseph being labeled “dirty” by Matthew Stafford, the coach, who doesn’t like losing, replied, “That‘s how we play football here. Just keep your head up, see what you hit. That’ll always be what I tell Kerby… He’s going for the thigh board and staying away from the head. That’s how we play defense here. It’s not dirty. We hit.” Campbell clearly shut down all the hatred and labeling of his team, calling it a typical and obvious gameplay in football.

Tensions flared between LA QB Stafford and Lions safety Joseph in their wild-card matchup. The dispute arose after Joseph delivered a low hit on Rams TE Tyler Higbee, causing a bad injury, during Detroit’s narrow victory 24-23. Stafford confronted Joseph, expressing his displeasure by saying, “Hey, that’s a good hit. That’s a good hit. You dirty as f*ck though and you know it. You dirty as f*ck. It’s been on tape. I’ve seen it.“

The contentious moment occurred in the fourth quarter when Joseph’s helmet collided with Higbee’s right leg as he attempted a catch across the middle, resulting in Higbee leaving the field with a limp and being subsequently ruled out.

Read more: “Detroit Lions Got Screwed”: Rich Eisen Breaks Down NFL Officiating That Cost Dan Campbell & Co. the Win

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Joseph has hit a player brutally. Earlier, too, he faced some heat due to a similar incident.

What does Kerby Joseph think of his ‘hitting’ style?

On Christmas Eve, Lions safety Kerby Joseph’s hit on TJ Hockenson resulted in the Vikings’ star tight end suffering a season-ending torn ACL and MCL in his right knee. Despite causing this injury, he faced no penalty or fine from the league. In a more recent incident on Sunday night, Joseph targeted the right knee of Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, causing an awkward bend and forcing Higbee to limp off the field with the help of the attendants.

These actions have sparked controversy, with some labeling Joseph “dirty.” However, Joseph remains unfazed by the criticism, stating, “People are going to say what they’re going to say. I don’t really pay too much mind to them. I’m here to ball and win games. That’s my main focus right now. I don’t have time to focus on (what) people are saying.“

As he and his Lions will face Tampa Bay next weekend, Joseph might be implementing his unapologetic gameplay against the Bucs. While the Bucs might be taking cautious measures to prevent injuries on the field, Joseph continues to prioritize delivering impactful performance and securing victories for the team.

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